How does St. Kate’s "Preparedness Plan" Compare?

This summer, universities across the country were forced to adjust their Fall semester plans to adapt to the persisting pandemic. St. Kate’s has adopted a hybrid class model for its students, allowing those who need to be in-person access to necessary equipment, while keeping as many students as possible home with online classes.

Many universities in the Twin Cities have adopted similar policies in an effort to keep their students safe from the virus. 

According to St. Thomas’ Campus Preparedness Plan, the private university has implemented a host of new adjustments, including reduced capacity in rooms, floor markings to indicate 6-foot distances, plexiglass barriers, and to-go items in dining facilities. These are tactics St. Kate’s has made use of as well in order to keep employees and students accountable and safe. Both schools have made masks mandatory in all indoor spaces, in compliance with the Governor’s order to wear face coverings in public spaces.

Like St. Kate’s, St. Thomas has adopted a hybrid class model, offering a mix of in-person and online classes, depending on the needs of the course.

Hamline, meanwhile, has made the decision to keep most classes on campus, with a few offered online if needed. The private liberal arts school also intends to implement a unique shift plan approach, which will adjust campus policies in reaction to the pandemic’s progress. The plan lists scenarios for different levels of transmission, keeping only essential operations active should the virus become too dangerous.

Over in Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota is making its own adjustments for its large population of students. The university has decided to keep all classes online for the first two weeks of the semester in order to make last minute changes and monitor the spread of the virus. Move-in was also delayed by two weeks for similar reasons.

Once the two weeks are up, however, classes will resume as they were originally scheduled, in a mix of in-person and online options. Moreover, the academic calendar has been accelerated so that all in-person classes will be completed by Thanksgiving break.

This differs greatly from St. Kate’s decision to keep the same schedule for Fall semester, whether classes are in-person or online. This means St. Kate’s students will be attending classes until December.

Whatever adjustments have been made, universities in the Twin Cities and beyond are grappling with how to deliver the best learning experience possible for their students, while still keeping everyone safe. Allowances have to be made in case of an outbreak of the virus on campus, and the possibility of being sent home looms over any student who chooses to live in the residence halls.

Only time will tell how these varying plans will play out in the semester to come.

If you are interested in reading St. Kate’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, click here.